Collapsible table.



G. A. WRIGHT.

COLLAPSIBLE TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 1, 1910.

Patented Jan. 26, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

THE NORRIS PETERS C0,, PHOTG L!THO., WASHINGTON. D c.

c. A. WRIGHT.

GOLLAPSIBLE TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 1, 1910.

Patented Jan. 26, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

G. A. WRIGHT.

GOLLAPSIBLE TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 1, 1910.

1,126 ,6 11 Patented Jan. 26, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHBET 3.

"HE NORRIS PETERS (30., PHOTO-THO WASHINGTON. D. C

G. A. WRIGHT.

GOLLAPSIBLE TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 1, 1910.

Patented Jan. 26, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

THE NORRIS PETERS cO.. PHOTC-LITHO WASHINGTON. D. C.

CHARLES A. WRIGHT, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.-

GOLLAPSIBLE TABLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 26, 1915.

Application filed August 1, 1910. Serial No. 574,759.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES A. WRIGHT, a citizen of the United. States, residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Collapsible Tables, of which the following is a specification.

One object of my invention is to provide a table which, while being light, relatively rigid and strong sembled condition, shall be capable of being collapsed and folded in a comparatively small compass so as to be conveniently transported.

It is further desired that the table having the above characteristics shall be inexpensive and durable, and in some cases capable of use as an emergency boat.

These objects and other advantageous ends 1 secure as hereinafter set forth, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1, is a perspective view illustrating my table in its assembled or open condition; Fig. 2, is an inverted plan of the top of the table spread out ready for folding; Fig. 3, is a perspective view of the table when in its collapsed or folded condition; the legs being rolled within the top; Fig. 4 is a perspective of one of the sets of legs in its folded position; Fig. 5, is an end elevation of the table in its open condition; Figs. 6 and 7, are respectively an inverted plan and a vertical section of portions of the table top, illustrating my preferred form of edge reinforcement; Fig. 8, is a detached perspective view of two of the parts for reinforcing the table top; Figs. 9 and 10, are vertical sections of portions of the table top illustrating the de tails of its construction; Fig. 11, is an inverted plan of the upper end of one of the legs; Fig. 12, is a fragmentary plan of part of the table top, and Figs. 13 and 14, are respectively a perspective view and a side elevation of a special form of my table capable of use as a boat.

In the above drawings 1 represents the table top which consists of a main body portion 2 and two opposite side or edge memhere 3. These parts are in effect one piece since the main portion is made up of a number of parallel and relatively thin strips 4: of wood or any other suitable material, held together and to similar parallel strips 5 in the side members 3 by Whatis preferably a when in its erected or assingle sheet of canvas or other light, flexible material.

From Figs. 1 and 2 it will be noted that the strips 5 are each preferably the same in width and form prolongations of the strips a, and while these latter are all of the same length, the strips 5 preferably increase in length from each end of the table toward the middle thereof. In order to reinforce the canvas or fabric backing of the strips, 1 may mount hinges to connect each of the strips 5 with its corresponding strips 4, and may reinforce the edges of the members 3 with strips of tape. Such hinges are by no means necessary in every case, since by suitable backing or other reinforcement of the backing material adjacent its bending portions, the need for this would be avoided.

When the table is collapsed or folded, as hereinafter described, as well as when it is in its assembled condition, there is naturally a strong tendency for the backing material to tear or be drawn away from the adjacent edges of the strips 1 and 5, and although I preferably glue it to said strips, I find that by the provision of re-inforcing brackets, such as shown in Figs. 6 to 8 inclusive, such tendency is in a large manner overcome. These brackets consist of two sets, of which one is shown at 6 in the form of an angle piece having a rectangular portion cut out of its flange and web. They are mounted, by screws or nails, on the side members 5 so that when the parts of the table top are in the positions shown in Fig. 7 the two projecting lugs 6 are practically in engagement with the under side of the backing 7 Similarly, on the strips 4L of the main portion of the table top there are angle brackets 8 having rectangular cuts in both their flange and web whereby the lugs 8 are formed; these latter being of such design as to receive between them the lugs 6 of the brackets 6, and being so mounted on the strips 5, that these lugs abut against the vertical face of the backing material 7 when the side strips 5 are in their assembled positions shown in Fig. 7

It will be noted that the various strips 1 and 5 are hinged to each other by the backing material 7 so that each strip 4: and its two end strips 5 are movably connected to another strip 4, and its strips 5 on either side of it, so that it is possible for one of these complete strips to be folded over or laid upon a complete strip on either side of it when the parts are in the positions shownin Fig. 2. Owingto this same backing material and regardless of whether or not the hinges 9 are employed between the strips 4 and 5, these latter are hinged together so as to be capable of moving from the relative positions shown in Fig. 2, to those shown in Fig. 7. For supporting the table top, I provide two sets of legs and each of these sets consists of four members 10, 11, 12 and 13, with a holding tape 14: for preventing undue spreading of the members 11 and 12 which are permanently connected by a pivot 15 at their middle point. 1

The member 10 is connected by a hinge 1 to the member 11 and a transverse connecting bar 13 is pivoted permanently or detachably to the upper portion of the bar 12 by a pivot 18, being removably connected to the two portions of the bar 11 by a headed bolt or screw 19 which enters a suitable slot in its upper edge. At each end of the bar 13 whose length is substantially equal to that of one of the strips 4; minus twice the thickness of the backing, is mounted a clamping screw 20 designed to enter the slot 20 at the end of one of the side strips 5 when the table is in its assembled position; and the lengths of the bars 11 and 12 are such that their upper ends preferably abut against the upper inside portions of the backing on certain of the strips 5 when the table is assembled, although they are clear of the under side of the main or body portion. The slots 2O are preferably provided with metallic reinforcing pieces, as shown.

The bar 10, which, as shown in Fig. 1, is hinged to the lower end of the bar 11, extends upwardly at an angle, and has fixed to its upper end a forked angle piece 21 designed to be engaged by the head of a clamping screw 22 and thereby held to the under side of what is preferably one of the central strips 4 of the table. All of said strips are preferably tongued and grooved as shown in Fig. 12, so that when the table top is assembled with its parts in the posi tions shown in Fig. 1, its stripst form what is practically a continuous surface held plane by the beams formed of the various strips 50f the two side members; the resulting structure being extremely stiff and the arrangement being such that practically the whole weight of the main portion of the top and any weight carried thereby is supported by said beams formed by the side members,

and is transferred from them to the legs through the transverse bars 13 thereof.

The bars 10, as a matter of fact, abut upon the under side of the main portion of the table top, but their function is rather to brace the legs than to support any weight ,which may be applied to said top. The

clamping screws 20 serve to holdthe beanilike side members formed by thestrips 5 and their associated parts, in planes at right I angles to the main portion of the table top formed by the strips 4, and it will be noted that the tongued and grooved construction of the strips materially aids in increasing their stiffness as well as in holding the various parts rigidly together. i

In taking apart the table, the clamping screws 20 and 22 are slightly loosened and the brackets 21 on the bars 10 are disengaged from the latter set of screws, after which the table top as a whole may be lifted off of the bars 13. Thereafter said top is laid on a fiat surface with its parts in the positions shown in Fig. 2, while the two bars 11 and 12 of each set of legs are turned on their pivot so as to lie parallel with each 'otherand the bar 13 is likewise moved on its pivot 18 so as to'lie parallel with the bar 12. The bar 10 is then turned on its hinge so that it also lies parallel and immediately adjacent to the other three bars of its set. The two sets of legs may then be placed upon what is normally the lower or under remainder and serve to brace and stiffen it sufliciently to permit of its being attached to said legs by the clamping screws 20 and 22.

When my improved table is designed for the use of picnic or camping parties, I may make it as shown in Figs. 13 and 14, so that in emergencies it may be used as aboat. For this purpose I prolong the ends of the top as indicated at 4 so that these may be turned at right angles to the plane of said top and provide hooks 30 and pins or screws 31 whereby such prolongations may be held in positions to co-act with the remainder of the inverted top to form a container. Especially if this be covered with a poncho it is capable of being usedas a boat, which in the case of an ordinary table would carry two persons. In case of such use the bars 11 and 12 of each set of legs would not be used and the cross bars 13 would be relied upon to hold together and stiffen the sides 3.

I claim:

The combination in a table of a top formed of a series of strips each having extensions at its ends; a body of sheet material flexiblv'connecting all of' said strips and their extensions; means for holding the name to this specification, in the presence of iaxtieinsipns in the flflrm of rigid beargsdto tWo subscribing Witnesses. 10 t e strips in t e same plane, an evices adjacent the points of junction of the CHARLES WRIGHT strips and their extensions for preventing Witnesses: separation of the sheet material therefrom. WILLIAM E. BRADLEY,

In testimony whereof, I have signed my WM. A. BARR.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

